American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta and more to the challenge of biofuels
Meeting at the White House between US climate councilor Gina McCarthy and transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg with US airline numbers American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Airlines and Southwest Airlines
The CEOs of the largest US passenger and cargo airlines have met in recent days with some officials of the Biden administration with the aim of discussing the reduction of emissions from flights and incentives for low-carbon fuels for aviation .
THE MEETING
According to what the Associated Press reconstructed, the White House said that the meeting with the climate adviser Gina McCarthy and the transport secretary Pete Buttigieg also touched on economic policy and the containment of the spread of COVID-19 : travel is been a carrier of the virus. Even though it was emissions that almost completely drove the talks.
WHO HAS PARTICIPATED
Attendees include CEOs of American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Airlines and Southwest Airlines. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby, in particular, has asked US administration officials to support incentives for 'green' fuel and technology in order to cut emissions as much as possible.
BIOFUELS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN TRADITIONALS
In fact, jet-fuel biofuels, made from waste oils, including cooking oil and animal fat, are much more expensive than petroleum-based jet fuel, and airlines are unable to foot the bill for such a switch. The government, on the other hand, could pay for green fuel – three to four times more expensive than jet fuel – by passing some or all of this additional cost to taxpayers.
THINK OF INCENTIVE OF 2 DOLLARS PER GALLON
Reuters last week noted that the National Air Transportation Association had scheduled a meeting with the Federal Aviation Administration to discuss a $ 2-per-gallon biofuel incentive. According to analysts, this would be one of the most expensive government incentives in the United States.
HOW MUCH AIRPLANES WEIGH ON THE CLIMATE
Airplanes account for a small fraction of the emissions that cause climate change – roughly 2% to 3% – but their share has grown rapidly and is expected to approximately triple by mid-century with global travel growth.
The United States accounts for about 23% of aircraft carbon emissions, followed by Europe at 19% and China at 13%, the transport group's researchers estimate.
OPTIMISM FROM THE MEETING
The White House reported that McCarthy, Buttigieg and economic adviser Brian Deese said they were "grateful and optimistic" to hear airline number one talking about current and future efforts to combat climate change. Nicholas Calio, president of the Airlines for America business group, added that the exchange of ideas was positive. "Airlines are ready, willing and capable partners, and we want to be part of the solution" to climate change, Calio said in a statement. "We are ready to work in partnership with the Biden administration."
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/smartcity/compagnie-aeree-usa-sono-pronte-alla-sfida-dei-biocarburanti/ on Sun, 04 Apr 2021 14:30:17 +0000.